Refrigeration apparatus



Feb. 1191924, 1,484,691

Y B. c. SMITH REFRIGERATION APPARATUS Filed Nov. 22, 1919 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 for Imporaor Pefrzyefa @51g @than e434 il. l//f/ B. C. SMlTH REFRIGERATION APPARATUS Filed Nov. 22, 1919 2 SheBtB-Shevt 2 Feb. 19 1924. 1,484,091

Condenser vwem tovr Patented F eb. 19, 1924.

UNITED STATES 1,484,091 i PATENT oFFlcE.

BENJAMIN C. SMITH, OF BAYONNE, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR T EUGENE A. RIOTTE, 0F

DOUGLASTON, NEW YORK.

REFRIGERATION APPARATUS.

Application med November 22, 1919. serial No. 339,912.

residing at Bayonne, New Jersey, have in vented a new and useful Refrigeration A pparatus, of which the following is a specif.-

cation:

My invention relates particularly to a machine of the so-called intermittent absorption type.

The main object is to provide a simple, inexpensive and reliable apparatus suitable for ordinary household refrigeration or cooling plants, which are automatic or substantially automatic and require practically no supervision or adjustment. One of the difficulties heretofore found with apparatus of this character isthe accumulation of'water in the refrigeration chamber or evaporator.

I have sought especially to construct and ar,- range the parts so as to automatically drain or return water from the refrigerator to the still-absorber. In carrying out the invention I have avoided the use of valves which might become clogged and which require constant supervision and attention.-

Fig. 1, is a diagrammatic side view of apparatus embodying the preferred form of my invention.

Fig. 2 is a similar end view showing a modified arrangement.

Figs. 3 and 4 are similar'side views of other modifications.

The principal elements of the apparatus are the receptacle 5 for-containing the solution of Water and ammonia and constituting the still and absorber, the receptacle 6 constituting the evaporator or refrigerator element and the receptacle 7 constituting the condenser.

The still-absorber is adapted to be heated at intervals by means of a suitable heater 8 using oil, gas or electricity as the heating medium. The condenser is locatedin a tank 9 through which cooling liquid such as water may be circulated.

f Between the-still-absorber and the refrigerator is located a trap and rectifier. In the form shown in Fig. 1 the receptacle 10 with a water jacket 11 constitutes a combined rectiier and trap. The still-absorber and rectifier-trap are connected by an inverted U-pipe 12 which lconducts gas from the gas chamber l in the upper part of the still-absorber to the lower part of the rectifier-trap. The upper part of the rectifier-trap is connected by a pipe 13 to the upper part of the refrigerator element 6. The refrigerator or evaporator is connected with the. condenser by a pipe 14 leading from the bottom of the refrigerator and a pipe 15 leading to the bottom of the condenser. A return pipe 16 leads from the upper part of the rectifier-trap to the bottom of the still-absorber. Preferably a circulating pipe 17 connected to the bottom of the i still-absorber is immersed in the cooling tank 9. In-the form shown in Fig. 1 the lower end of the pipe 16 is inserted in one leg of the circulator pipe 17 just below the bottom of the still-absorber.

The apparatus thus far described operates in the following manner. The still-absorber .being provided with the proper quantity of Water and ammonia` absorbed therein, is heated. This drives olf the ammonia gas which passes through' the pipe 12 into the receptacle 10, up through the pipe 13 into the refrigerator chamber 6. From here it is passed upward through the pipe 14 and then downward through the pipe 15 into the condenser where the gas is cooled into liquid ammonia. Some of the water or vapor is unavoidably carried over with the ammonia gas into the receptacle 10 which takes out the greater part of the water. Some water, or water vapor, is also unavoidably carried over into the refrigerator 6 where in ordinary systems of this character the water collects and ultimately interferes with the operation of the system. When all, or sub-v stantially all, of the ammonia gas i's driven o from the still-absorber the heater` is turned 0E and the system allowed to cool.

When the pressure in the still-absorber decreasesgsufciently in the cooling operation, f' the pressure of the gas which is collected in the top of the condenser is sufficient to force the liquid ammonia vupward through the pipe 15 and down pipe 14 into the refrigera- 'tor receptacle from which it slowly evapf orates'producing the necessary cooling or refrigerating action. As'the gas evaporates from the receptacle 6 it passes back through the pipe 13 into the rectifier-trap and thence through the pipe 16 into the circulation -member 17 which of course is illed with` -water which flows in from the still-absorber. The gas of course reduces the specific gravity of the liquid in the injector leg and, .causes the liquid to circulate thus distributing-the gas and the solution through-out the sti -absorber and hastening the absorption action. Any excess of water in the rectier trap of course will drain downward through the pipe 16. The rectifier-trap and the pipe connections are such that the gas returning through the pipe 13 cannot pass back into the still-absorber through the pipe 12 but is forced to come in through the pipe. 16 into the bottom of the receptacle 5.

With apparatus as thus far described, it will be seen that ultimately the collection of water in the receptacle 6 may render the apparatus entirely inoperative. To prevent this action and also to facilitate circulation as will be hereinafter understood, I have provided a very simple means for intermittently draining the receptacle 6. This consists of a drain pipe 19 leading from above the refrigerator chamber 6 and delivering into the lower part of one of the receptacles containing the water and ammonia gas. In the form shown in Fig. 1, the pipe 19 leads from a v chamber 20 and delivers into the rectiertrap 10 below the liquid level.

'During the heating operation any water which has reviously collected in the bottom of the refrigerator receptacle 6 i's forced by the gas pressure up through the pipe 14 into the chamber 20 and drains downward through pipe 19 and back through the trap 10 and pipe 16 into the still-absorber 5. To prevent thepressure of gas in the rectifier-trap from forcing the water up through the pipe 12 and driving all the water out of the rectifier-trap, the head in the pipe 12 should be greater than the head from the lower end of the pipe 16 to the level of the liquid in the still-absorber. 'Ihe pipe 14, chamber 20 and pipe 15 constitute the conduit connecting the evaporator with the condenser and the drain 19 is connected above the pipe 13.

In the arrangement shown in Fig. 2 the drain 19 is connected to the lower part of the still-absorber instead of to the rectifiertrap. *i

' In the form shown in Fig. 3 the drain 19 and return pipe 16" are joined at their lower ends and discharge throu h a nozzle 18 into one leg of the circulator 1 At the beginning of the refrigerating period gas which has collected in the pipe 15, chamber 20 an'd pipe 19 is driven/directly down the pipe 19" and up into the still-absorber from the nozzle 18. This serves to start the circulation of liquid in the still-absorber and facilitates the subsequent flow of gas from tlerefrigerator chamber 6 and pipes 13 and In the arrangement shown in Fig. 4, the

" trap and rectifier are separate elements. The

trap l'is located in a position similar to 'the rectifier-trap of 1, and is connected by a pipe 13 fleading from its upper portion iaeaoei to the bottom of the rectifier 11a which is located in the cooling tank 9. 'Ihe upper end of the rectifier is connected by a pipe v13b to the top of the evaporating chamber of the refrigerator. In this case the drain pipe 19a leads into the bottom of the rectifier 11a and the excess of water in the rectifier is forced upward through the pipe 13a into the trap l()a and finds its way back into the still-absorber through the pipe 16a.

In all the forms herein shown and described, the iow 4of gas during the heating period from the still-absorber to the evaporator drives the water in the evaporator up the pipe 14 into the enlarged chamber 20 whence it drains by gravity back into the still-absorber either through the rectifiertrap as shown in Fig. 1, or direct asshown in F ig.=. 2,or through the circulator as shown in Fig. 3,V or through the rectifier and trap as show-n in Fig; 4. None of these forms require any automatic or hand valves.

I claim: 1. .In a refrigeration system, the combination of a vessel for containing a refrigerant liquid, an evaporator-refrigerator, a condenser, a conduit connecting the condenser with the bottom of the evaporator-refrigerator, a gas outlet conduit leading from the gas chamber in the upper part of the vessel to the upper part of the refrigerator evaporator, and piping including part ofthe gas outlet conduit connecting a portion of said first named conduit above the level of the evaporator-refrigerator to the bottom'of said vessel, whereby water collecting in the bottom of said evaporator-refrigerator may be forced from the same and allowed to drain back into said vessel during the gas generating period.

2. In a refrigerating system, the combination of a still-absorber, an evaporator-refrigerator, a condenser, a gas-conveying conduit leading from the upper part of the still-absorber and connected to the upper part of said evaporator-refrigerator, a conduit leading from the bottom of the evaporator-refrigerator to thebottom of thecondenser and a drain extending from said latter conduit at a point above said evaporatorrefrigerator for returning water to another part of the system other than the condenser.

3. In a refrigerating system, the combination of a still-absorber, an evaporator-refrigerator, a trap adapted to contain liquid, a gas conduit leadingfrom the upper part of the still-absorberto the tran below the liquid level thereof, a second gas conduit,

leading from the upper part of the trap to the evaporator refrigerator, an overflow pipe connecting the trap with the lower part of .the still-absorber, a condenser, apipe 'from iis latter pipe above the evaporator refrigerator to the trap below the liquid level thereof.

4:. In a refrigerating system, a still-absorber, a trap, a pipe connecting the lower 4part of said trap with the upper part of' said still-absorber, an evaporator-refrigerator connected With the upper part of said trap, a condense-r connected with theA lower partof said evaporator-refrigerator, a return pipe connecting the upperpart of said trap with the lower part of said still-absorber and a drain connecting the lower nectedwith the upper part of said-trap, a

condenser vconnected with the lower part of said evaporator-refrigerator, a return pipe connecting the upper part of said trap with said circulator and a drain connecting said evaporator-refrigerator with one of said first three mentioned elements.

6. In a refrigerating system, a Still-absorber, a circulator at the bottom thereof, a trap above the still-absorber, a pipe connecting the lower part of said trap with the upper part of said still-absorber, an evaporator-refrigerator above said trap and connected with the upper part of said trap, a condenser connected with the lower part of said evaporator refrigerator, a return pipe connectinor the upper part of said trap with said circu ator and a drain connecting said evaporator-refrigerator with one of the first three mentionef elements.

7. As an artic e of manufacture for a refrigeration system, an evaporator tank, a condenser conduit leading from a point just above the bottom and extending above the top of the evaporator tank for connection to a condenser, a gas p-ipe connected near the 'f top of the evaporator tank for connection with a still-absorber and a drain pipe connected to said condenser conduit above said gas pipe.

8. In a refrigerating system, the combination of a still-absorber, an evaporator-refrigerator above the levelof said still-abf sorber, a condenser, a gas-conveying conduit leading from the upper part of the still-absorber to the upper part of said evaporatorrefrigerator, a conduit leading from the bottom of the evaporator-refrigerator to the bottom of the condenser and drainage means including a poition of said gas conveying conduit connecting said condenser conduit lat a point above said evaporator-refrigerator with said still-absorber below the lliquid level.

9. A refrigeration system, comprising a still-absorber, a trapl above the still-absorber, a pipe connected with the gas chamber in the upper part of the still-absorber and having a vertical leg above the trap and discharging into the trap near the bottom, an evaporator-refrigerator above the stillabsorber, a pipe connecting the upper part of the trap with the upper part of L,the evaporator-refrigerator, a return p-ipe connecting the trap above its-liquid level with the lower part of said still-absorber, a drain leading from the lower part of the evaporator-refrigerator and extending above the same and discharging ultimately through the return pipe into the lower part of the still-absorber, and a condenser connected to said drain above the evaporator-refrigerator.

l0. A refrigeration system of the character of claim 9 having a circulator connected to the bottom of the still-absorber and having the return pipe and the drain discharging into one leg of said circulator.

11. In combination a still-absorber, a trap, an evaporator, a condenser, a gas pipe connecting the upper part of the still-absorber with the lower part of the trap, a gas pipe connecting the upper part of the trap With the upper part of the evaporator,

to the condenser and a drain connecting the conduit to one of the first two mentioned 4elements below the level of the liquid therein.

'12. The combination of a still-absorber, a trap an evaporator, a con enser, a gaspipe connecting the first two elements, a gas pipe connecting said trap and said evaporator, a conduit connecting said evaporator and said condenser, a water cooled circulator connected to the bottom of the absorber, a return pipe connecting said trap and saidncirculator and means for automatically drawing water from the evaporator during the heating 'period back into one of the other elements of the system.

13. As an article of manufacture for a refrigeration apparatus, a trap having a gas inlet near the bottom, a gas outlet near the top, a return pipe connected at a level between said inlet and said outlet and a drain inlet below the return pipe connection.

14. As an article of manufacture for a,

said as pi g Pe BENJAMIN o. SMITH. 

